>>>>OTOH, the West is helping them keep their people in poverty.
>>>
>>>Yep. By funneling billions and billions of dollars monthly to the Islamic governments in the region.
>>
>>Specs, please.
>
>Oil.

The oil money is not a gift from the West. It's what they get when they sell, and could come from anywhere. I somehow don't see the reason for relocation of this money in the general benevolence of the West, but rather in the thirst of the Hummer.

I've read in 1999 (!) that the US would be completely independent from foreign oil if there were no SUVs, family trucks and other personal tanks.

And, BTW, when I say "the West" I don't mean just governments. I mean businesses as well, just like you just did.